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Show StatesmanCampus News Monday, Nov. 15, 2010 Page 3 New website invites student input on higher ed By ROB JEPSON staff writer The Utah System of Higher Education (USHE) asked college students throughout Utah to participate in an "online public hearing on the future of Utah higher education," according to a recent letter to faculty, staff and students in which USU President Stan Albrecht encouraged USU to participate. The online hearing is a type of survey which presents students with proposed courses of action concerning Utah higher education and provides them the option to either "like" or "dislike" the proposal and leave comments. "I encourage you to help us address these future demands for higher education by letting your voice be heard through this innovative public forum," Albrecht said. A recent study by Georgetown University showed that by 2018, 66 percent of all jobs in Utah will require at least some post-secondary education, and 55 percent of them will require at least an associate degree. According to the USHE, only 39 percent of Utahns currently hold an associate degree or higher. Under the direction of USHE commissioner William A. Sederburg, the State Board of Regents has launched a plan which aims to raise the level of education in Utah to meet the projected demands. According to their website, the system's board of regents and commissioner aim to have 66 percent of Utah residents — men and women age 25 to 64 — with a post-secondary degree or certificate by the year 2020. Additionally, they aim to have 55 percent of Utah's workforce with an associate degree or higher and 11 percent with a post-sec- ondary certificate that leads to a "livable wage." Albrecht said the opportunity to participate in this effort comes on the heels of a visit to USU from William E. Kirwan, chancellor of the University System of Maryland. He said Kirwan is a nationally recognized authority on critical issues shaping higher education, and that during Kirwan's visit it became clear that higher education was facing many complex problems. He said education could continue to be "a catalyst for growth and prosperity in Utah and the nation with the help of our best thinking." James Morales, USU vice president of student services, said the project has been in development for almost a year and all the public universities in the system have had a chance to contribute to it. "As far as we know," said USHE Director of Communications Holly Braithwaite, "this is the first online public hearing of its kind, certainly in higher education". She said the idea has been talked about nationally but, to her knowledge, has never been done. She said in addition to voting, there are two wiki documents on the website which allow anyone to register and contribute. The documents are called the "case statement," and the "action plan." These documents are "living documents" which will remain in draft form until their final approval by the state board of regents. According to the Utah Home Education Association (UHEA) website, the purpose of this draft is to enlist input, feedback and support from the higher education community and its stakeholders to help shape the future of higher education in Utah. The website states that the feedback will be reflected in future drafts of the document. "The overarching purpose of this document is to serve as a compass to the State Board of Regents as well as to the higher education community and stakeholders in their implementation of strategies that will help ensure the future prosperity of Utah," the website states. Morales said: "We are excited that the state is taking leadership on this and saying as a coordinated effort we need to take a look at where we are, where we need to go and how we're going to get there. I think what's important and what's at stake is our future as a state — our well-being economically, how the society within the state continues to thrive and function. He said the age we live in requires a higher level of skills to function and be successful, and these skills are best taught in a higher education environment. "The more educated a person is, the better they're able to contribute to society as a citizen," he said. Braithwaite said after students have submitted their opinions and comments, they will be reviewed and incorporated. "They track all comments and take them into consideration," Braithwaite said. "Then these ideas will be kind of boiled down and taken to the board or regents for their action plan." Concerning student participation, Morales said, "We want you to be honest. We want you to be frank with your experiences and your thoughts and your ideas because that's going to generate the best outcome as this plan is formulated as we move forward." The survey can be accessed at www.higheredutah2020.org. continuedfrom page 1 Hayes explained that this means bacterium caused the extinction of the single-celled organisms, like algae and plankton. There was a sudden shift, she said, from single-celled organisms to a bacterial-dominated world, which could have been due to a change in ocean chemistry. By studying the shale they found in the Uinta mountains, they can see this change because of oxygen levels and the organic matter in the rock. Hayes said they're hypothesis is that a period of high sulfur content along with an algae-bloom-like spread of bacteria erupted throughout the oceans world wide and killed off the earlier organisms. Dehler said this new information raises a questions: could this biotic change have been a precursory event to climate change? If these bacteria bloomed worldwide, could it have caused the climate change? "We're constantly learning and we're constantly becoming new scientists because it moves so fast," she said. Dehler's interest in fossils of this kind began on a trip to the Grand Canyon in 1995, where she first took notice of these Pre-Cambrian PHYTOPLANKTON MICROFOSSILS from mudrocks are being studied in the Uinta Mountains by USU scientists. Each microfossil is about 20 micrometers in diameter. Photo courtesy of Dawn Hayes rocks. She said it was "love at first sight" and at the time wondered if they had been studied yet. Though some research had been done on the rocks, it wasn't in-depth and Dehler began her study of the fossils. She said the research has now piqued the interest of scientists in many fields. Hayes was originally a biol- ogy and chemistry teacher, then returned to USU to work toward her graduate degree. She recently presented the team's research to the Geological Society of America and said she looks forward to continuing the research. Contrary to a recent article, Hayes said they are "definitely not challenging the idea the earth was at one point or a few points covered in glaciers." Hayes is currently working on her doctoral thesis, which is focused on the evolution and decline of snowball earth. She and Dehler are working on a grant proposal that would allow them to test other areas of the Uinta mountains to see if they have similar results. As they try to find a specific reason for this early extinction, Dehler said they've recognized there are probably many reasons. "One of the important things about looking at older fossil records," she said, is looking at what earlier fossils can tell us: how animals evolved, how many other extinctions happened and how organisms became extinct." — k.vandyke@aggiemail.usu.edu RCDE: Ideas develop for building's architecture continued rom page 1 campuses and distance education, called the broadcasting classrooms "smart classrooms." "Logan students will come and be linked to classrooms all over the state," she said. "Most of the classes will be at night, but some of them will be during the day." According to the most recent Regional Campuses and Distance Education annual report, enrollment in online and distance classes has nearly doubled from what it was 10 years ago. Additionally, the total enrollment in regional and distance classes is now slightly higher, at 17,345 students, than enrollment at the Logan campus, which hosts 17,199 students. Menlove said the new facilities will help the university accommodate the growing demand for such classes. "It's a building for the future," she said. "We're growing, so even though we already have 30 smart classrooms here on campus, we don't think that's enough." This is part of a larger vision she said that USU President Stan Albrecht and the provost have to make every classroom a smart classroom. The recent growth, Menlove said, can be traced to recent economic conditions. "It's growing across the state because you have a down economy," she said. "When that happens people go back to school." Menlove said distance education is opening up new opportunities because of the economic advantages it provides. "People haven't had this opportunity before," she said. "If you live in Green River there's no way you could drive to the university. Previously if you were an adult and you wanted to go back to school you had to quit your job and move your family. This way it comes to you." Younger students are also reaping the economic benefits these new smart classes and online education bring. The annual report showed that the vast majority of students are undereraduates. and the largest age group is students 18-25 years old. According to Menlove, the average age has dropped from 35 to 31. "There are lots of kids that can't afford to come to school anymore because it's so expensive," she said. "But if they stay home and take classes, the only cost they have is tuition and books." It also works to bring degrees to people that can't be obtained anywhere else in the state. "People along the Wasatch front have a lot of opportunities," Menlove said. "We offer programs there that the can't et an where else. Natural Campus & Community Winter parking ordinance begins Cars will no longer be permitted to park on any Logan City street between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m. beginning Nov. 15. This will be implemented until the end of February 2011 and those who do continue to park on city streets will receive a citation. Whether there is or is not snow or ice on the ground the parking precaution will be enforced. This change in parking procedures occurs every year in order to make it easier for snow plows to clear the roadways. Those who are concerned about no longer having a parking space should speak with their landlords, resident managers or housing advisers to establish a new location to leave their vehicles. The Logan Parking Authority is also assisting in this matter and they can be contacted at 435-750-0255. Spectrum on wheels tickets for purchase — roblepson@aggiemail.usu.edu Fossils: Scientists study prehistoric fossils in Uintas I Briefs resource and agricultural degrees, nobody offers those but Utah State." While these programs are saving money for the students, they aren't free for the school. Menlove said the new building will cost roughly $10-12 million and is being funded primarily by student tuition. Total operating expenses for distance education for 2008-09 was more than $28.6 million, according to the annual report. — mike.burnham@aggiemail.usu.edu AN RCDE BUILDING SKETCH shows the general idea of the future building that will house Utah Public Radio and house professors' broadcast lectures. Photo courtesy Ronda Menlove The USU vs. BYU basketball game is coming up on Nov. 17. The Aggies are taking on the Cougars in one of the biggest games of the year, so The HURD is taking the Spectrum on wheels to Provo. Tickets for this game go on sale at 8 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 15 in the TSC Ballroom. Ticket purchasers will be granted entrance into the game, a ride on the fun bus and free pizza on the trip down. There will also be games and trivia to win free stuff. Tickets are $15 for HURD members and $20 for students who are not. You have to be a USU student with the ID to get tickets. NonHURD members can sign up for the HURD there as well. The bus leaves at 3 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 17 from the northwest side of the Stadium parking lot. Be on time and ready to cheer on the Aggies. If you have any questions e-mail The HURD at hurd@aggiemail.usu. edu . Kiger Hourfeatures pottery professor The November Kiger Hour event features John Neely, professor of art in the Caine College of the Arts' Department of Art. Kiger Hour is a social and intellectual program presented by Utah State University and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Caine College of the Arts. Neely presents "You teach WHAT? Pottery in the University," Thursday, Nov. 18, at Hamilton's Steak and Seafood. Kiger Hour begins at 5:15 p.m. with a social gathering and the program, known as the TimePiece, begins at approximately 6 p.m. The activity is open to everyone. Neely will discuss his experiences of running a pottery program on the campus of a research university. Neely is an accomplished ceramicist and has presented his work in more than 100 domestic group exhibitions as well as solo and international exhibitions. Kiger Hour is held at Hamilton's Steak and Seafood, 2427 N. Main St., Logan. A buffet with appetizers, desserts and soft drinks, iced tea or coffee is offered. Cost is $6.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and is billed on an individual basis. Guests can also order from the menu, and a cash bar is available. For planning purposes, please RSVP to Natalie Archibald Smoot in the college office, 435-797-2796, or email, natalie.archibald@usu. edu. 11 Co mp ile d from staff and media reports |